Hegseth lifts ban on service members carrying personal firearms on base
By Sarah Davis
Published on April 2, 2026.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced that he is lifting a ban on service members' ability to carry firearms on U.S. military bases. This decision was made in response to the Gun-Free Schools Act of 1990, which established standards for gun-free zones on federal properties. The decision was prompted by shootings at Fort Stewart Army Base, Holloman Air Force Base, and Naval Air Station Pensacola. Hehseth instructed installation commanders to permit requests from service members for personal protection. The Pentagon's annual suicide report revealed that a total of 471 service members died by suicide in 2024, with a suicide rate of 4.5.
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